Papers and Documents relating to the Foreign Relations of Hungary, Volume 1, 1919–1920 (Budapest, 1939)

Documents

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58 1920 should be sought in the economic field. In following this road, we can demonstrate our pacific intentions without in any way prejudicing our future policies. Nevertheless, we must be careful not to take the initiative because our neighbours, still drunk from victory, would doubtless regard any such step on our part as a sign of weakness. Applying these considerations to the concrete issue referred to in your report No. 159/pol.

1, I beg to inform you about my position as follows: The re-equipment of the munitions factory at Csepel would be desirable from more than one point of view. Apart from the important advantages referred to in your report, the resumption of work in this important industrial enterprise would also be useful in easing the burden of unemployment. With respect to negotiations with Rumania relating to this matter, my feeling is that we ought to avoid showing any eagerness, although we ought to pursue the conversations already begun. It would be desirable to ascertain whether Mr. IsopescuGrecul acts and speaks on his own initiative or pursuant to instructions from his Government. In any event, considering the nervousness of Rumania threatened by the bolsheviks and plagued by internal difficulties, it seems more opportune to await proposals from Rumania. In your subsequent conversations with the Rumanian minister you can suggest to him the idea that the Hungarian Government would certainly not decline to negotiate concerning concrete issues. You should also emphasize that it is not the fault of Hungary that relations between the two countries are not better. Finally you should make clear that in your opinion territorial questions ought not to form part of such negotiations as a matter of diplomatic courtesy toward the Peace Conference. I believe that an offer to return the machinery taken from the Csepel factory ought to be unconditionally rejected. In explanation you may point out that these delicate machines were made more or less useless already when they were carelessly removed from the factory. After having been exposed to all sorts of weather for months in open railroad cars, they are at best good only for scrap iron. 1 Supra, Doc. No. 127.